Flame-colored Tanager (Piranga bidentata), Lower Ash Canyon, Cochise County

This Flame-colored Tanager was found and photographed by Robert Behrstock on 12 April 2020

Present for several days prior.

Very rare summer visitor. Has been documented in the Chiricahuas, Huachucas and Santa Ritas individuals have returned and nesting has occured as well as hybrids with Western Tanager P. ludoviciana. This is a new location for this species and is lower in elevation than prior records.

Dark bill, dark auriculars, yellow-bodied tanager, streaked back, and dark wings with white-spotted wing bars. All of this is consistent with a pure bird

12 April 2020, photo by Robert Behrstock

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